Alleged rape topped news for August

December 27, 2012

Two Steubenville High School students-athletes were charged with rape and kidnapping in connection with a sexual assault in August.

Charged were Trent Mays of Bloomingdale and Malik Richmond of Steubenville, both 16.

Police began an investigation after parents came to the police station on Aug. 14 to report a sexual assault involving their daughter.

After a series of hearings, a trial has been set in February

In other news in August:

Wheeling-Nisshin announced it will introduce a new, highly corrosion-resistant hot dip coated steel sheet to U.S. markets in 2013.

Producing the new coating, known as ZAM, will require $28 million in equipment upgrades, a commitment company, community and government leaders say has the potential to create new jobs over the long term even as it saves existing positions at the Follansbee plant.

ZAM is "five- to 10-times stronger than existing coatings" and is suitable for a wide array of end-uses, Wheeling-Nisshin President and CEO Noboru Onishi said.

Also in August, a federal judge signed off on the sale of bankrupt RG Steel's Mingo Junction and Martins Ferry plants for $22 million, but a decision on Esmark Steel's bid for the Ohio Coatings and Yorkville plants was put on hold.

U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Kevin Carey approved Frontier Industrial's $20 million bid for the Mingo Junction plant and a $2 million bid for the Martins Ferry plant tendered by Wheeling businessman W. Quay Mull.

Officials with New York-based Frontier told Carey parts of the Mingo plant would be demolished but certain operations there could continue if buyers and financing could be arranged.

Nucor, meanwhile, purchased the equipment only from RG Steel's Corrugating operation, and RG Steel's 50 percent ownership stake in the Mountain State Carbon coke-making plant in Follansbee was not part of the auction.

Esmark Steel Chairman and CEO Jim Bouchard, meanwhile, planned to put workers back to work once Carey signed off on his acquisition of the cold-rolling mill in Yorkville and a 50 percent ownership stake in Ohio Coatings Co.

Bouchard once owned the entire Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel operation, but sold it to Russia's Severstal.

Elsewhere, New York-based Revere Copper planned to have the coating lines acquired from Follansbee Steel running at its northern New York plant by the end of the year.

The Louis Berkman Co. of Steubenville sold the plant's assets to Revere in June, giving Revere control of the patents and equipment from the now- defunct company.

About 36 people had worked at the Follansbee plant.

Weirton Mayor George Kondik asked city council to sponsor a state grant application for the preservation of the Margaret Manson Weiron Memorial Pool in support of the Marland Heights Community Association, which was attempting to save the pool.

Kondik said if matching funds are needed, the community association's must supply them.

The city's park board voted in July to demolish the pool, saying the cost to upgrade and make it handicap accessible was too high. But residents persuaded the board to pursue its restoration.

FirstEnergy blamed a weak economy and too-low energy prices for a drastic reduction in operations at its W.H. Sammis plant in Stratton.

Officials said operations would be minimized around Sept. 16, but none of about 440 workers would be laid off. Most were to be shifted to other FirstEnergy sites on a temporary basis, though a few will remain on the job at the Sammis plant.

The move is intended to reduce costs by minimizing the need for outside vendors and contractors and reducing overtime costs.

The company had spent $1.8 billion to install scrubbers at the Sammis plant.

With approval of a rezoning request for the former The Rose catering business on Lovers Lane on Aug. 14, California-based H & H Screening and Graphics announced plans to open an operation there to serve its Nike, Adidas and Reebok corporate customers on the East Coast and Canada.

Legal counsel for the company said it "will initially start within the confines of The Rose with the opportunity to expand on the 7-acre site and will initially start with approximately 35 employees."

Steubenville City Manager Cathy Davison received a three-year contract offer on Aug. 29 that will continue her current $90,000 annual salary and benefits.

Davison's current contract expires on March 15. Council met in executive session for 75 minutes to review the proposed contract before asking her to join them for face-to-face discussions.

James A. Taylor, 29, Samantha M. Taylor, 26, Glenn A. Adams, 27, all of 1321 Oregon Ave., and Daniel A. McKenney, 21, of 201 Bartleyville Road, Burgettstown, were indicted by the Jefferson County grand jury on charges they put their children inside plastic storage containers as punishment on June 16.

City Police said holes were cut in the lids but covered with a T-shirt at some point and water was poured on the children.

The Taylors were each indicted on two counts of child endangering and one count of unlawful restraint. Adams and McKenney each were indicted on single counts of endangering children and unlawful restraint.

Police said the three children are in the care of children services.

The nine members of the Jefferson County Port Authority were named Aug. 2 at a ceremony on the steps of the Jefferson County Courthouse.

Steubenville Council abolished the city's port authority to make room for the new one.

The Jefferson County Commission and council each appointed four members, with the ninth member appointed by the county's regional planning commission.

Mayor Domenick Mucci said, "They will work together on the economic opportunities for Jefferson County."

Ray T. McGowan, 29, of Youngstown and Tylor E. Hellyer, 23, of Steubenville were flown by medical helicopters to Pittsburgh hospitals after they were shot outside Club 106 in Steubenville on Aug. 12.

McGowan called police, saying he was injured and located by the railroad tracks near Slack Street. Trinity Medical Center West officials called police to report Hellyer was brought to the hospital.

Jeremy Starr, 28, of Wintersville was sentenced to six years in prison in connection with two robberies in Wintersville in June after pleading guilty to two counts of robbery, with firearm specifications.

Starr was arrested by Wintersville Police and the Jefferson County Sheriff's Department for the robbery of the Dollar General store and Jack's Sunshine Shop, a tanning business.

Starr told the deputies and Wintersville officers that he bought heroin with the cash taken in the robberies.

Toronto Council instructed City Law Director Craig Hallen to file a civil suit to recoup overpayment of overtime and other benefits to former city police Chief Danny Mosti. The overpayment occurred in 2004 and 2005 and was discovered by the state auditor's office in March 2008, Allen said.

Mosti retired as chief in 2011. The matter is pending.

Brooke High School staff, students and supporters got to step onto the new AstroTurf football field at Brooke Memorial Stadium on Aug. 22.

Principal Toni Shute invited he public to step onto the field following a ribbon cutting on the 50-yard line involving students involved in sports and extracurricular activities, Brooke school board officials and the Brooke County Schools athletic complex committee, which raised funds for the new field.

The group raised much of the $400,000 needed for the field and continues to accept donations through its website at www.brookebruinpride.com, but took loans for the remainder so it could be completed.

The school board allocated $250,000 to replace the athletic track around the field, which had deteriorated with wear and weatherization.

A fountain monument to all military veterans at Follansbee Park was dedicated on Aug. 30. City officials, businesses and residents came together to fund the monument, which cost $12,000.

The Follansbee Chamber of Commerce and 20th Century Woman's Club solicited funds, and Follansbee Council allocated $4,750 for it.

The monument consists of a 5-foot urn comprised of stacked stone, surrounded by a 2-foot high circle of estate stone with a pump that recirculates water from the base to the urn.